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Save Dikson

Dikson is the northernmost settlement and port in Taymyr, in the north of Russia. In September 2022, the local people found a polar bear lying on a pile of coal, close to their houses. Polar bears can be dangerous for people, but the wounded bear was so weak that it could hardly move its head and paws. The bear was moaning and let people approach it.

The bear had been shot sevetal times. At first sight, it seemed that the animal had no chance to stay alive. Howeyer, the people tried to do everything possible to save it and not only because the species was in the Red Book. A rescue team was called from Moscow to provide professional veterinary help. The local authorities meanwhile started an investigation to find the person who had shot the bear.  

When vets from Moscow Zoo arrived, they examined the bear. It turned out to be a young three-year-old male. They called him Dikson in the name of the place. The animal had a broken spine which made his back and two legs paralysed. The bear could not walk and it was quite a challenge to transport him by air. The vets, however, managed to get the bear on board the plane and safely delivered it to the capital.

In Moscow, Dikson was operated on and placed into a spacious enclosure for rehabilitation. The idea was to get the animal to move as much as he could for better recovery. There was an open space with a pool. The entrance to the pool was made convenient for the bear. Soon Dikson managed to move around on his front legs, sit and dive into the swimming pool.

Like other bears in the zoo, Dikson was most active until midday. He enjoyed swimming as it helped him be more mobile and get stronger. The bear got used to the people who took care of him and always greeted the zoo keepers, who brought him food at lunchtime, with a loud roar. Dikson had an amazing appetite! He liked oats, meat, soups and eggs, but fish, of course, was his favourite daily dish. He even took it from the keeper’s hands.

After lunch, Dikson usually had a rest. It’s natural for bears to sleep a lot, especially in winter. However, in the zoo, animals can often stay active during the cold season. 

As Dikson decided to stay awake for the New Year holidays, the zoo keepers put up a New Year tree in his enclosure. They decorated it with fresh apples and left a box with fresh fish under the tree. The bear did not hesitate to eat all the presents!

Dikson is still very popular with Moscow Zoo visitors. Although the bear lives in the remote part of the zoo, its enclosure is among the most visited ones. Of course, Dikson’s case is unique — it’s a story of a survivor! And now we do hope for another miracle to happen. Probably, one day we will see the beautiful animal walk properly again.